Earlier quoted context omitted.
> To call this “equivalent “ yet.
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In the end, you're treated like a spy, says MIT scientist
281–290 of 484 posts
Re: In the end, you're treated like a spy, says MIT scientist
#282Earlier quoted context omitted.
With due respect, the right wing is perfectly happy to use the power of government to suppress speech they don’t like. See eg the new bills banning discussion of sexual identity in Florida schools. I usually regret responding to OT partisan comments, but statements of belief like “ is the party of free speech” is exactly how you end up voting in a government that brutally suppresses free speech.
I didn't mean the right wing was actually in favor of free speech, and I should have been clearer about that. The right wing has never been in favor of free speech, nearly by definition. The consequence is that the US political scene is dominated by two illiberal parties, much like, for example, Egypt after Mubarak's flight, or the late Weimar Republic. I'm surprised that you'd think right-wing US parties were my pre…
I don't think it is strictly a partisan issue but the potential precedence where a re-normalization event may occur. What struck me curious was a random quote quote from somewhere that reads: "conservatism is progressivism with speed limits". I mean, where have we seen instances where such precedences have been set in the grassroot moments all the way to our highest courts?
Crypto export control.
DeCSS.
SDMI.
Effects from twitter bots from the early years and now?
Re: In the end, you're treated like a spy, says MIT scientist
#283Re: In the end, you're treated like a spy, says MIT scientist
#284As bad as this is, it could have been so much worse for him. The government does not usually correct itself like this, preferring instead to continue with prosecution, notch up another corrupt win, and call it a day. And in fact, for this reason, the (current) government needs to get major kudos! And Dr. Chen should get more hugs, and more support - as many as he needs to help him forget this nightmare and get back to doing what he loves.
Re: In the end, you're treated like a spy, says MIT scientist
#285The worst part of these accusations is that your reputation is tarnished whether you are guilty or not. This instilled a sense of fear in every person even if they are innocent because you can still be targeted and your career ruined. If this scientist was just stating out, rather than already established, he would likely have had to quit science. There should be some penalty for false accusations that can compensate…
That's true and that's unfortunate. At the same time, how do you balance national security versus avoiding situations like this one? One of my takeaways from studying the McCarthy era was that there really were a lot of spies and communist sympathizers in America at the time. It wasn't some figment of someone's imagination. Likewise, I think we have good reason to proceed under the assumption that China is trying to infiltrate our institutions. Because they are.
Re: In the end, you're treated like a spy, says MIT scientist
#286Earlier quoted context omitted.
The majority, really? TSMC's fabs are in Taiwan, using ASML machines from the Netherlands. Much of their chips run ARM, from Cambridge. As I look at my tabs, I see Google Maps (invented by an Australian in Sydney), and Spotify (from Sweden). The world is far, far, bigger than the USA; and as an Australian, I'd say it's extremely pretentious or naive to think the US has a 'majority' of cutting edge tech.
The integrated circuit was invented in the U.S., and the semiconductor industry was pioneered in the U.S. Op said that the U.S. pioneers and develops technology, giving a first mover advantage. Yes, eventually other countries catch up and start innovating on their own, but the point that the U.S. is generally the pioneer stands.
The IC was invented over 60 years ago. That's human 2-3 generations.
Re: In the end, you're treated like a spy, says MIT scientist
#287The worst part of these accusations is that your reputation is tarnished whether you are guilty or not. This instilled a sense of fear in every person even if they are innocent because you can still be targeted and your career ruined. If this scientist was just stating out, rather than already established, he would likely have had to quit science. There should be some penalty for false accusations that can compensate…
He can certainly sue the US government for accusing him publicly without enough evidence to prosecute, and the resulting loss of compensation. Now, it's not exactly affordable for him to do so. But that's a separate problem we should solve.
Re: In the end, you're treated like a spy, says MIT scientist
#288As bad as this is, it could have been so much worse for him. The government does not usually correct itself like this, preferring instead to continue with prosecution, notch up another corrupt win, and call it a day. And in fact, for this reason, the (current) government needs to get major kudos! And Dr. Chen should get more hugs, and more support - as many as he needs to help him forget this nightmare and get back t…
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Re: In the end, you're treated like a spy, says MIT scientist
#289> “My thinking is, I didn’t do anything wrong,” he said. “So whatever they look at, they won’t find that I did anything wrong.” This statement seems like a completely backward mindset to have, especially after watching this classic advice piece on youtube [1]. [1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7o9xYp7eE
Wow, what an insightful video. In nerdy terms, the prosecution will basically p-hack your case until they get statistical significance.
> the prosecution will basically p-hack your case until they get statistical significance.
This is a great analogy.
Re: In the end, you're treated like a spy, says MIT scientist
#290"The dismissal is a setback to the China Initiative, an effort started in 2018 to crack down on economic and scientific espionage by China." No, it is not. Why would it be a setback if somebody who is innocent has their case dismissed. I mean who writes such lines? Doesnt this line imply that this dismissal was a bad thing (since nobody endorses espionage).
One assumes that the goal of the China Initiative is to charge people who are actually guilty of espionage. Highly public failings at that goal would seem to be setbacks, right?
Well, some publishers are careful to note the distinction between `allegations` and `accusations` while others do not. Then there's the word `indictment` which I always assumed meant something after the fact but is instead actually defined as a "formal (lega) charge of an accusation".